Zixiao Peak

Commonly known as the "Precious Summit", Zixiao Peak stands as the highest peak of Yunshan Mountain. It was named by Wang Lizhong, the top local official of Wugang during the Song Dynasty. Though a native of another region, Magistrate Wang cherished the landscapes of Wugang deeply. During his tenure here, he named each of the seventy-one peaks of Yunshan one by one.

Zixiao Peak sits at an elevation of 1,372.5 meters. Its great height renders it visible not only from Xinning and Chengbu, neighboring counties of Wugang, but even from Longhui, over two hundred li away. Visitors may find it hard to believe that there is a mountain named Wangyun Mountain in Longhui County. Its name carries a literal meaning: standing atop Wangyun Mountain, one can gaze at Yunshan Mountain of Wugang. It is already remarkable that Yunshan can be seen from such a distance, yet an even more fascinating story lingers. After spotting Yunshan from Wangyun Mountain, someone spontaneously composed the first half of a couplet: "On Wangyun Mountain, I gaze at Yunshan Mountain; Yunshan lies within sight."

Generations have passed since then, and countless matching second lines have been created, yet none are perfectly well-matched in tone and imagery. Would any of you care to craft a fitting counterpart? If you come up with one, please share it with me. I will preserve it here to form a brand-new scenic highlight. We look forward to your masterwork.

Two peculiar natural phenomena can be observed here, all stemming from the peak’s staggering height. On the southeastern slope of Zixiao Peak, tall arbors struggle to survive; visitors will only spot dwarf trees and thick shrubbery. On the northwestern slope near the summit, a few tall trees do grow, yet once they reach a certain height, their crowns appear flattened as if pressed down by a huge stone slab, unable to grow any taller. There is a single root cause for both odd sights: Zixiao Peak is towering—truly towering!

Still, its great elevation brings great advantages. Forest rangers hold this peak dear, for they have built a fire watchtower atop it to scan surrounding mountain ridges for wildfires. At the first sign of flame, they immediately alert the forest fire prevention headquarters via phone to launch timely fire suppression. Thanks to Zixiao Peak, rangers have drastically reduced the frequency of forest fires. In this sense, Zixiao Peak is a heroic mountain.

Locals say a trip to Yunshan is incomplete without climbing Zixiao Peak. Beloved by forest rangers, it is also a place where award-winning artworks and talented artists come to life. Standing on the summit, you are surrounded by vast open space with unobstructed panoramic views. Every mountain, near and far, stretches before your eyes. On clear days, Xinning unfolds to the east, Chengbu to the west, and the urban area of Wugang to the north. Rainy days offer an entirely different scene: surging seas of clouds blanket the land, veiled in mist and drizzle. Peaks of varying heights emerge like scattered islands rising and sinking amid the cloud ocean, making visitors feel as if they are floating alongside them.

If you are a photographer capturing these rare, breathtaking vistas, you might well stumble upon a gold or silver award-winning shot. Claiming such honors would crown you an artist. To create extraordinary artwork here, the ideal time to visit is early morning after rainfall. As the sky softens into pale duck-egg yellow, thick billows of mist gather in the east like a heavy silk quilt. Gradually, the sun peeks out from the mist, and mountain silhouettes near and far emerge bit by bit. Dear visitors, could this sight be anything less than a stunning living painting?